Planting family trees in college

A few students come onto campus each day with the possibility of running into one or both of their parents, who work as professors. Despite sharing the Chapman experience with their mother or father, these students said they make sure to develop their own independence during their undergraduate years.

Sophomore psychology major Camille Jolly (center) smiles with her father, business law professor Cameron Jolly, and mother, business law professor Yvette Jolly.

Photo courtesy Yvette Jolly.

Some students try to get as far away as possible from their parents during college. Others choose to follow in their parents’ footsteps.

Some Chapman students carry on a legacy not just of their family name, but also of their family’s university of choice. They have followed one, and sometimes both, of their parent professors into Chapman’s classrooms, familiar to them even before they walked in a high school graduation.

A few students, like sophomore psychology major Camille Jolly, are now crossing paths with their parents at home and at school.

Camille Jolly’s mother, business law professor Yvette Jolly, said she wanted her daughter to join her and her husband on Chapman’s campus.

“I was just thrilled because it is a fantastic university,” Yvette Jolly said. “Both my husband and I think it’s an incredible educational experience all around.”

Camille Jolly said she grew up around Chapman and often visited classes taught by her father, business law professor Cameron Jolly, as a child.

“(The decision to enroll) wasn’t really influenced by my parents, but they always talk about how amazing the school is,” Camille Jolly said. “I thought I might as well jump right in.”

Camille said this close connection to faculty gave her insight into what professors expect and like out of students.

“They know when you’re texting, and they do actually care about things like if you come to class and if you dress nice,” Camille Jolly said.

Similarly, Camille Jolly said her mother now understands her life better.

“My mom knows who I’m talking about when I say I’m going to hang out with certain people,” Camille Jolly said. “It’s nice to be able to say that I saw someone at a party, and she knows who they are.”

Sophomore business major Rami Hovsepian had a similar experience when making the decision to attend.

Sophomore business major Rami Hovsepian (right) poses with his father, political science professor Nubar Hovsepian.

Photo by Ashley Probst.

“Chapman is a great school, and I was going to get free tuition as long as I got accepted here,” Rami Hovsepian said. “That was a huge incentive, because now I’m going to graduate with no debt.”

Although having a parent working as a professor on campus could be undesirable for some students, Rami Hovsepian said he hasn’t had any issues.

“I get to see my dad more often than most other Chapman students, so that’s a nice thing,” Rami Hovsepian said.

Rami Hovsepian’s father, political science professor Nubar Hovsepian, said he was excited to see his son come to Chapman, but on one condition.

“If he was studying political science I would have told him to go anywhere but here,” Nubar Hovsepian said. “What would he have called me? Professor Dad?”

Rami Hovsepain said he would never take a class taught by his father.

“Never have, and never will,” Rami Hovespian said. “He is super political science, and I’m super business, so we’re pretty much opposite people.”

Although these students are so close to their parents, each said they still value their independence.

“He is living his own life,” Nubar Hovsepian said. “I insisted that he live outside of the house so that he gets the true college experience.”

When senior art history and literature major Charlotte Hughes first came to Chapman, she was not as happy about being so close to her hometown of Anaheim Hills.

“At first, I was a bit resentful,” Charlotte Hughes said. “I felt sure I would never have the true college experience or get to feel a sense of real independence.”

Yet after finding a close-knit group of friends her freshman year, her worries subsided, she said.

“I discovered this fear to be far from the reality,” Charlotte Hughes said. “I have since developed my sense of self and academic interests in a great many ways—hardly at all hindered by my staying in Orange County.”

Charlotte Hughes’ father, philosophy professor Charles Hughes, said he encouraged his daughter’s decision to attend Chapman.

“It’s a joy to encounter her on campus,” Charles Hughes said. “I’m glad she can be here at Chapman under the visionary leadership of James Doti. The sky’s the limit.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: Nubar Hovsepian's quotes have been moved up to follow those of his son, Rami Hovsepian, to allow the story to flow better.

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.